An emergency candy pouch, tiny origami highland cows, and a weird trendlet

Plus, my new obsession: roasted sweet potatoes in chili oil!

I do some of my best writing in bed—and tonight is no different: the heating pad is on, my youngest son is fast asleep next to me, curled like a question mark under the covers. He had an uncharacteristically hard time falling asleep tonight - padding into our bedroom saying, “It’s like I’m a robot and my owner won’t turn me off.” Well, who among us hasn’t felt the same way at one time or another! I turned on Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me for a while, and we hung out until he drifted off. One of the great harvests of middle age for me has been sometimes just being ok with what is: a child who can’t fall asleep, a messy house, a to-do list that remains undone.

A. At one point, I had four fish tanks in my childhood bedroom and I’d watch the guppies school as I fell asleep. These socks reminded me of the small joy of watching fish be fish.

B. These highland cows made me laugh out loud. They’d be a perfect just-because-gift for a friend who sends me these videos.

C. These matches caught my eye - the electric blue tips!

D. Suddenly seeing …ducks…. everywhere, including a child in a duck costume at a Halloween party tonight.

E. Goodnight Moon is a forever favorite - I find the illustrations so calming. This good night moon fabric made me gasp! I’m not sure exactly what I’d make out of it, but that’s not exactly the point of fabric sometimes. Napkins? A bolster for my bed?

F. A fun gift.

G. Tim joined our local volunteer ambulance squad (he’s training to be an EMR) and recently bought these Rite in the Rain pens for his on-call kit, and I’m coveting them.

H. My love for pouches is eternal. This one for emergency candy charms me. The women I work with keep a stash of Halloween candy in one of the kitchen cupboards. It’s a small intimacy to be slowly discovering everyone’s favorite brands.

I. Gah! Never enough art supplies in my world. Fun Artist pencils!

One of my favorite restaurants has been serving an insanely delicious side dish of roast sweet potatoes in chili oil on yogurt, and it’s truly one of the best things I’ve eaten in a long time.

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I include a few bonus finds here each week for paid subscribers as a small token of appreciation for making this newsletter possible.

1. This is earmarked for my oldest’s Christmas stocking … he’s a big ice cream guy …

2. The prettiest wallpaper!

3. Two great totes from Hay

4. A mini in my fav color.